triOK's Group - FULL (Page 7)

Stretching your calves is absolutely vital to staying injury-free.  That stretch is by far the best one I can recommend.  Do it, and do it often.

The treadmill thing is just something you will have to get used to.  I am a treadmill-junkie when its cold, and I still get that feeling when I get off.  You will get used to it...

I am a certified spin instructor... I have seen exactly what you describe in almost every new person that comes in to my class.  Just keep going-right now, you are using muscles that are used to getting that kind of workout.  After a few classes, you will find that it gets easier and easier.  Its awkard at first, but when your legs are better conditioned, it will be a whole different experience.  When you stand up, you need to have enough resisitance on the bike to keep your legs from going out of control -  and honestly, you should have resistance on all the time.  Your legs should never feel out of control.  You need to PEDAL and not just spin.  The fly wheels on those bikes are 30-40lbs a piece.  Its easy to start pedaling and let the momentum carry the wheel around.  Add resistance to your pedaling and that becomes harder to do.  If you are only using the momentum, you aren't getting a workout.  Its cheating.

If you were in my class, I'd be in your face yelling at you drill sergeant-style.  I may be little, but I have been known to scare people...

Don't worry...the groove will come.  You might find a lot of people on this site that don't like spin classes because "Its not biking."  And they are right.  But there are few things that you can do to get that kind of workout ...most of which will improve your biking ability immensely when you finally take your bike out for real.  IMHO, races are won on the bike.  There is a reason that I am usually one of the first women off the bike.

GO TO SPIN CLASS!!!  (But find a good, challenging, teacher.  Some of them preach the mind, body, soul thing.  Not me - I want someone screaming at me.  Find someone that works for you... even if they are the preachy type.  It will benefit immensely!)

Results of week 1:

triOK's group

No Mercy:  48.1%

kbkav:  76.7%

firstriguy:  100%

poke4christ:  79.4%

erjellum:  65.1%

gator22:  100%

TyroneNYC:  71.2%

willie05:  100%

shultzboy:  56.7%

gc150:  100%

triOK:  79.5%

Marvarnett's group

Cashmason: 100%

starcorp:  100%

mcole158:  90.3%

Marvarnett:  100%

Great job guys!  Keep working hard!  Everyone looks good!

Awesome job everyone!  Remember it's about pushing yourself and just getting out there.  Every hour you spend is an hour that makes you stronger.

Keep up the great work everyone and I know that we all will continue to kick some major butt.

Cashmason - 2007-02-20 1:13 PM Robin, You don't understand men. A woman who screams at you is called either a wife or mother. We learn to tune out the screaming at an early age, but a sweaty woman in bike shorts screaming at us is just considered Hawt. That said, I wish our spin instructors would train us for real world biking, rather than just an aerobic workout.

Most instructors cater to their class.  If its a class full of cyclists/triathletes, then they will teach accordingly.  Unfortunately, most classes are full of people that don't ride outside of class and are only there for a workout.  When that is the truth, it becomes hard to accomodate those that want a "real" cycling experience.

Either way, you are getting a workout that will benefit your ability to cross the finish line at your races.

Yep, and there is also a way to find out who else is from BT is going to do the same race.  I've been to a couple of races with some fellow BTers and its always a lot of fun.  I am looking forward to meeting a lot more BTers this year!

Mid-Week Progress Report

triOK's group

No Mercy:  31.8%

kbkav:  0% <---- post your workouts and I will update this figure

firstriguy:  74.7%

poke4christ:  30.2%

erjellum:  89.7%

gator22:  38.7%

TyroneNYC:  40.0%

willie05:  63.3%

shultzboy:  31.5%

gc150:  20%

triOK:  46.7%

Marvarnett's group

Cashmason: 45.2%

starcorp:  51.3%

mcole158:  47.0%

Marvarnett:  31.3%

I don't leave home without it!